Lots of articles criticizing United CEO Munoz used the term “tone-deaf” describing his email to employees about the United/Dr. Dao incident. Here’s what I find most interesting: Continue reading
Lesson Learned Number 1
It’s been interesting reading about the Wells Fargo situation…which made me think about my lesson learned: Be maniacal about doing the right thing. So obvious right? But clearly, very smart, very dedicated people still take a wrong turn. How does it happen? My observations…. Continue reading
What You Tell Yourself
I once went to this amazing leadership course where we did this one exercise where we were told to shout negative things to a person standing with their arms out: “You’re dumb!”, “You can’t do anything right!”, “You can’t win!” The instructor went over to him and pushed his arms down easily.
We then shouted positive things to the person: “You’re great!”, “You’re the best!”, “You can do anything!”, and when the instructor tried to push his arms down, he couldn’t. The person was able to resist. Seriously.
So here are some things to say to yourself depending on the circumstance: Continue reading
Warning Signs
When people are in the process of vetting a new role, sometimes it gets worse, not better as the process goes on. Yes, it’s great when you only get more and more excited about the new job. But sometimes, you start getting warning signals….which conflict with the appeal of a higher salary, promises, and the “new shiny” thing high. Here are some warning signs you should pay attention to: Continue reading
Getting Promoted
Lots of people ask me about this…sometimes it seems like there’s a rule book that everyone knows about but you. I’ve talked about the 3 Ps: Performance, Platform, and Perception as being key for promotion, but here’s some lessons learned about how to navigate this tricky space.
This is What A Feminist Looks Like
Do you know someone who’s really special? I mean, off the charts. I have, bar none, a totally amazing and awesome niece who’s unbelievably passionate and great at basketball (and many other things-we can talk about Grey’s Anatomy all day long). So, I saw this shirt and had to get it for her.
Sports is such a great way for girls and women to develop confidence, self-esteem, and learn how to perform under pressure. It teaches teamwork, discipline, graciousness, tenacity, and how to appreciate your body, not for how it looks but for what it can do. I love that she has a sport that means so much to her.
So encourage our daughters, nieces, friends to find a sport they love. Sure, talent is important, but my brother and sister-in-law are with her every step, play, and game, and that is what makes the difference.
Dealing with Dementia
So my dad has Parkinson’s disease. I’ve started meeting other people who are also dealing with a parent who is ill. This disease has no cure, but I’m happy to say Dad is doing ok…meaning he’s happy, he’s not in pain, and he still enjoys life. Dementia is growing more and more , so here’s my lessons learned so far: Continue reading
Catching the Next Big Wave
There will be times in your career when others come to the conclusion you are ready for the next move (as opposed to you thinking you’re ready). Sometimes it’s to take the role of your boss, lead a project that’s going poorly…..it’s almost always something that is outside your comfort zone and a surprise, since you weren’t looking for it. When people asked me to take roles, my reaction was often gratitude, followed by a compelling argument as to why I wasn’t qualified for the role. Lucky for me, I was overridden. Some things to think about:
The “What” versus the “How”
One of the problem “frames” I often use is defining the what versus the how. The “what” is usually the tricky part: it involves requirements, defining the end point, the outcome. People are much more comfortable in the “how”…because it’s reassuring and easier to just do things. But it can lead to activity, not results.
Walking the Talk
This is a great article from Inc. about how the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella dealt with a very public fail by his company. An excerpt of the email which was shared in a profile piece was “Keep pushing, and know that I am with you … (The) key is to keep learning and improving.” The article also says ” Nadella says he also urged staffers to take the criticism in the right spirit while exercising “deep empathy for anyone hurt by Tay.” Continue reading